ISLAMABAD, February 14, 2014: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh passed the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in sixth sitting of its ongoing 11th session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Fact sheet based on direct observation of the proceedings.
The government brought these bills to provide legal cover for the computerization of revenue and land records. The House approved the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2013 within 23 minutes of its introduction and with three amendments to it proposed by MQM lawmaker and provincial minister for parliamentary affairs. The Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was passed after its consideration for 15 minutes.
The provincial minister of education responded to all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written reply) included in the agenda. The members asked 24 supplementary questions additionally.
The House also took up three of the five calling attention notices while two could not be taken up due to absence of their sponsors. The taken up CANs were regarding the non payment of salaries to the employees of Sukkur Municipal Corporation, inability of police to control crimes, and non-functional special education centers in the province.
The Assembly deferred a privilege motion of MQM lawmaker while the chair declared an adjournment motion, jointly submitted by two MQM members, ‘out of order’ after the parliamentary leader opposed it. Two members spoke on points of order for 15 minutes.
Following are some key observations of the proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours.
- The sitting started at 1040 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 40 minutes.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the proceedings for 40 minutes while the Chief Minister was absent.
- The Parliamentary leader of PPPP, PML-N, MQM, and PTI were present.
- Twenty-one members were present at the outset and 82 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 85 members were observed to be present at a point during the sitting.
- Four minority members attended the sitting.
- Four members applied for leave.
Output
- The Provincial Assembly of Sindh passed the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
- The House approved the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2013 within 23 minutes of its introduction and with three amendments to it proposed by MQM lawmaker and provincial minister for parliamentary affairs.
- The Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was passed after its consideration for 15 minutes.
- The government brought these bills to provide legal cover for the computerization of revenue and land records.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The provincial minister of education responded to all five starred questions (requiring oral as well as written reply) included in the agenda. The members asked 24 supplementary questions additionally.
- The House also took up three of the five calling attention notices while two could not be taken up due to absence of their sponsors. The taken up CANs were regarding the non payment of salaries to the employees of Sukkur Municipal Corporation, inability of police to control crimes, and non-functional special education centers in the province.
- The Assembly deferred a privilege motion of MQM lawmaker.
- The chair declared an adjournment motion, jointly submitted by two MQM members, ‘out of order’ after the parliamentary leader opposed it.
Order and Institutionalization
- Two members spoke on points of order for 15 minutes.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN